Impeller and electric blower having the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an impeller including: an upper surface, which is an air inlet portion; a lower surface, which is an air outlet portion; and blades formed between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the upper and lower surfaces are provided with guide grooves for balancing of a motor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2012-0129569, filed on Nov. 15, 2012, entitled “Impeller and ElectricBlower Having the Same”, which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an impeller and an electric blowerhaving the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a balancing method ofcompensating for unbalance of a rotating rotor in a motor structure of ahigh speed cleaner is performed by assembling and processing a balancingpart, which is a component capable of compensating for a balance in therotating rotor to be balanced.

In addition, the balancing part may be configured of upper and lowerbalancing parts. In this case, a process of process or molding aseparate balancing part to assembling the balance part is required, andthus, volume, weight and inertia of the rotor increase, therebyincreasing a load at the time of rotation.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

(Patent Document 1) US 20070134109 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an impellercapable of performing two-dimensional balancing, that is, balancing atupper and lower portions of the impeller, and performing more accurateand efficient balancing by balancing guide grooves.

In addition, the present invention has been made in an effort to providean electric blower capable of implementing microminiaturization andultra-lightness by including an impeller capable of performing efficientbalancing, and receiving a driving module for driving the impeller inthe impeller.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an impeller including: an upper surface, which is an air inletportion; a lower surface, which is an air outlet portion; and bladesformed between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the upper and lowersurfaces are provided with guide grooves for balancing a motor.

The guide groove may be formed in a circular shape in a rotationdirection of the impeller.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention,there is provided an electric blower including: an impeller including anupper surface, which is an air inlet portion, a lower surface, which isan air outlet portion, and blades formed between the upper and lowersurfaces, the upper and lower surfaces provided with guide grooves forbalancing the motor; and a driving module including a rotor part coupledto the impeller in order to drive the impeller and a stator part, therotor part including a magnet, the stator part including an armatureconfigured of a core and a coil that are positioned to face the magnet,and the rotor part and the stator part including an air bearing partformed therebetween, wherein the rotor part and the impeller are rotatedby electromagnetic force of the magnet and the armature, and the drivingmodule is received in the impeller.

The rotor part of the driving module may include: a sleeve rotatablysupported by a shaft; and a hub coupled to the sleeve and including themagnet coupled to an inner peripheral portion thereof.

The sleeve and the shaft may be mounted with magnetic bearing magnets atsurfaces facing each other, respectively.

The magnetic bearing magnet may be mounted at an upper end portion ofthe sleeve. The stator part of the driving module may include: a shaftrotatably supporting the rotor part; a base to which the shaft isfixedly coupled; and the armature coupled to the base and configured ofthe core and the coil.

The shaft may have a micro gap with the sleeve and be insertedly coupledto the sleeve so that an air bearing part is formed, and dynamicpressure generating grooves may be formed in an outer peripheral surfaceof the shaft facing the sleeve in a radial direction of the shaft.

The shaft may further include a ball mounted on a surface facing theimpeller in an axial direction of the shaft.

The shaft may be formed with a ball receiving groove for mounting theball at a central portion of an upper end surface thereof.

The impeller may further include a plate mounted on a surface facing theball.

The electric blower may further including: an impeller cover coveringthe impeller; and a motor housing coupled to the impeller cover andincluding the stator part mounted therein.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention,there is provided an electric blower including: an impeller including anupper surface, which is an air inlet portion, a lower surface, which isan air outlet portion, and blades formed between the upper and lowersurfaces, the upper and lower surfaces provided with guide grooves forbalancing of the motor; and a driving module including a rotor partcoupled to the impeller in order to drive the impeller and a statorpart, the rotor part including a magnet, the stator part including anarmature configured of a core and a coil that are positioned to face themagnet, and the rotor part and the stator part including an air bearingpartformed therebetween, wherein the rotor part and the impeller arerotated by electromagnetic force of the magnet and the armature, thedriving module is received in the impeller, and the rotor part of thedriving module includes a sleeve rotatably supported by the shaft and amagnet coupled to the sleeve so as to face the armature of the statorpart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an impelleraccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the impeller shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electricblower including the impeller shown in FIG. 1 according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electricblower including the impeller shown in FIG. 1 according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bemore clearly understood from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. Throughout the accompanying drawings, the same referencenumerals are used to designate the same or similar components, andredundant descriptions thereof are omitted. Further, in the followingdescription, the terms “first”, “second”, “one side”, “the other side”and the like are used to differentiate a certain component from othercomponents, but the configuration of such components should not beconstrued to be limited by the terms. Further, in the description of thepresent invention, when it is determined that the detailed descriptionof the related art would obscure the gist of the present invention, thedescription thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an impelleraccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2is a perspective view schematically showing the impeller shown in FIG.1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the impeller 10, an upper surface 11,which is an air inlet portion, and a lower surface 12, which is an airoutlet portion are formed. In addition, blades 13 are formed between theupper and lower surfaces 11 and 112.

More specifically, the blade 13 is formed with a round part so that astanding direction is bent from an upper portion, which is the inletportion, to a lower portion, which is the outlet portion.

Further, the upper surface 11 is provided with a guide groove 11 a forbalancing of the motor.

In addition, the lower surface 12 is provided with a guide groove 12 afor balancing of the motor.

Further, the guide groove 12 a may be formed in a circular shape in arotation direction of the impeller.

As the guide groove 11 a in the upper surface and the guide groove 12 ain the lower surface are formed, in the case of balancing, more accurateand efficient balancing may be performed. That is, in the case in whicha setting position is determined in a radial direction, and balancingdata thereon at the time of processing a groove are already calculated,an error due to balancing processing may be prevented, and moreefficient and accurate balancing may be performed.

In addition, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the case in which the guide grooves 11 aand 12 a are simultaneously formed in the upper and lower surfaces 11and 12, respectively, and balancing processing groove 11 b and 12 b areformed to be balanced. That is, more accurate and efficient balancingmay be performed by two-dimensional balancing at the upper and lowerportions.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electricblower including the impeller shown in FIG. 1 according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electric blower 100 includes an impeller 110 anda driving module 120. More specifically, the driving module 120 ispositioned at a lower portion of the impeller so as to be received inthe impeller.

In addition, the impeller 110 is covered with an impeller cover 200. Inaddition, the driving module 120 is configured of a rotor part andstator part, wherein the rotor part is coupled to the impeller 110 andthe stator part is mounted in a motor housing 300. Further, the cover200 and the motor housing 300 are coupled to each other bypress-fitting, or the like.

Furthermore, the impeller 110 includes the balancing guide grooves 111 aand 112 a formed in upper and lower surfaces 111 and 112, respectively,for balancing of the motor, and balancing processing grooves 111 b and112 b are formed in the balancing guide grooves 111 a and 112 a to bebalanced, such that more accurate and efficient balancing may beimplemented.

In addition, in the driving module, a shaft is provided with a radialdynamic pressure bearing part so as to have an air bearing part, and theelectric blower has a structure in which the driving module is insertedinto the impeller, such that miniaturization and lightness may beimplemented, and high speed driving may be performed by the air bearing.

Hereinafter, the driving module of the electric blower according to thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail.

The driving module 120 is configured of a stator part including a shaft121, a base 122, an armature 123 configured of a core 123 a and a coil123 b, and a printed circuit board 129 and a rotor part including asleeve 124, a hub 125, and a magnet 126.

Further, an outer diameter portion of the shaft 121 and an innerdiameter portion of the sleeve 124 have a micro gap therebetween, and anair bearing part is formed in the micro gap. In addition, facingsurfaces of the sleeve and the shaft are mounted with magnetic bearingmagnets 127, respectively.

Next, in the rotor part, the sleeve 124 is rotatably supported by theshaft 121. In addition, the sleeve 124 may include a radial dynamicpressure generating groove formed in the inner diameter portion thereofso that the air bearing part is formed in the micro gap with the shaft121, as described above.

Further, the hub 125 is coupled to the sleeve 124 and configured of adisk part 125 a extended from the sleeve 124 in an outer diameterdirection and a side wall part 125 b extended downwardly in an axialdirection of the shaft from an end portion of the disk part 125 a in theouter diameter direction.

Further, the sidewall part 125 b includes an annular ring shaped magnet126 mounted on an inner peripheral surface thereof so as to face thearmature 123 configured of the core 123 a and the coil 123 b.

Further, a magnetic bearing magnet 127 a is mounted on an innerperipheral surface of the sleeve 124 so as to face a magnetic bearingmagnet 127 b of the shaft.

In addition, the magnetic bearing magnet 127 a may have an annular ringshape.

Next, in the stator part, the shaft 121 rotatably supports the sleeve124 as described above, and the lower portion thereof is fixedly coupledto the base 122.

Further, the shaft 121 is mounted with the magnetic bearing magnet 127 bso as to face the magnetic bearing magnet 127 a of the sleeve.

That is, the driving module having a system in which dynamic pressure bythe magnetic bearing magnets 127 a and 127 b mounted on each of thesleeve 124 and the shaft 121 in addition to the air bearing may befurther stably designed may be implemented.

In addition, an outer peripheral surface of the shaft 121 may beprovided with radial dynamic pressure generating grooves so as to formthe air bearing part. As described above, the dynamic pressuregenerating groove may be selectively formed in the outer peripheralsurface of the shaft facing the sleeve or the inner peripheral surfaceof the sleeve facing the shaft.

FIG. 3 shows the case in which the dynamic pressure generating grooves121 a are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the shaft. Inaddition the dynamic pressure generating groove may have various shapessuch as a herringbone shape, or the like, and various sizes according toa design of the dynamic pressure.

Next, the base 122 includes the armature 123 fixedly coupled to theouter peripheral portion thereof by press-fitting, adhesion, or thelike, so as to face the magnet 126, wherein the armature 123 includesthe core 123 a and the coil 123 b.

In addition, the printed circuit board 129, which is to supply power tothe armature, is mounted on one surface of the base 122.

Through the above-mentioned configuration, in the electric blowerincluding the impeller according to the first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, two-dimensional balancing, that is, balancing atthe upper and lower portions of the impeller, may be performed, and moreaccurate and efficient balancing may be performed by the balancing guidegrooves.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electricblower including the impeller shown in FIG. 1 according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, in theelectric blower according to the second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, a magnet is implemented in an inner-rotor type inwhich the magnet is coupled to a sleeve and rotates together with thesleeve, as compared to the electric blower according to the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown FIG. 4, theelectric blower 100 includes an impeller 110 and a driving module 130.More specifically, the driving module 130 is mounted at an inner portionand a lower portion of the impeller 110 of the electric blower 100.

In addition, the impeller 110 is covered with an impeller cover 200. Inaddition, the driving module 130 is configured of a rotor part andstator part, wherein the rotor part is coupled to the impeller 110 andthe stator part is mounted in a motor housing 300. Further, the cover200 and the motor housing 300 are coupled to each other bypress-fitting, or the like. Furthermore, the impeller 110 includes thebalancing guide grooves 111 a and 112 a formed in upper and lowersurfaces 111 and 112, respectively, for balancing the motor, andbalancing processing grooves 111 b and 112 b are formed in the balancingguide grooves 111 a and 112 a to be balanced, such that more accurateand efficient balancing may be implemented.

Furthermore, the driving module has a shaft provided with a radialdynamic pressure bearing part so as to have an air bearing part.

In addition, the driving module 130 is configured of a stator partincluding a shaft 131, a base 132, an armature 133 configured of a core133 a and a coil 133 b, and a printed circuit board 138 and a rotor partincluding a sleeve 134 and a magnet 135, wherein an outer diameterportion of the shaft 131 and an inner diameter portion of the sleeve 134have a micro gap therebetween, and an air bearing part is formed in themicro gap. In addition, facing surfaces of the sleeve and the shaft aremounted with magnetic bearing magnets 137 a and 137 b, respectively.

More specifically, in the rotor part, the sleeve 134 is rotatablysupported by the shaft 131. In addition, the sleeve 134 may include aradial dynamic pressure generating groove formed in an inner diameterportion thereof so that the air bearing part is formed in the micro gapwith the shaft 131, as described above.

In addition, the sleeve is mounted with the magnet 135 facing thearmature of the stator part on an inner peripheral surface thereof.Further, a magnetic bearing magnet 137 a is mounted so as to face amagnetic bearing magnet 137 b of the shaft.

In addition, the magnetic bearing magnet 137 a may have an annular ringshape.

Next, in the stator part, the shaft 131 rotatably supports the sleeve134 as described above, and the lower portion thereof is fixedly coupledto the base 132.

Further, the shaft 131 is mounted with the magnetic bearing magnet 137 bso as to face the magnetic bearing magnet 137 a of the sleeve.

That is, the driving module having a system in which dynamic pressure bythe magnetic bearing magnets 137 a and 137 b mounted on each of thesleeve 134 and the shaft 131 in addition to the air bearing may bestably designed may be implemented.

In addition, an outer peripheral surface of the shaft 131 may beprovided with radial dynamic pressure generating grooves so as to formthe air bearing part. As described above, the dynamic pressuregenerating groove may be selectively formed in the outer peripheralsurface of the shaft facing the sleeve or the inner peripheral surfaceof the sleeve facing the shaft.

Next, the base 132 includes the armature 133 fixedly coupled thereto bypress-fitting, adhesion, or the like, so as to face the magnet 135,wherein the armature 133 includes the core 133 a and the coil 133 b.

In addition, the printed circuit board 138, which is to supply power tothe armature, is mounted on one surface of the base 132.

As described above, as the electric blower according to the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention has a structure in whichthe driving module is inserted into the impeller, miniaturization andlightness thereof may be implemented, and high-speed driving may beimplemented by the air bearing.

According to the present invention, the impeller capable of performingtwo-dimensional balancing, that is, balancing at the upper and lowerportions of the impeller, and performing more accurate and efficientbalancing by balancing guide grooves may be provided. In addition, theelectric blower capable of implementing microminiaturization andultra-lightness by including the impeller capable of performingefficient the balancing, and receiving the driving module for drivingthe impeller in the impeller may be provided.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosedfor illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated that the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalentarrangements should be considered to be within the scope of theinvention, and the detailed scope of the invention will be disclosed bythe accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An impeller comprising: an upper surface, whichis an air inlet portion; a lower surface, which is an air outletportion; and blades formed between the upper and lower surfaces, whereinthe upper and lower surfaces are provided with guide grooves forbalancing of a motor.
 2. The impeller as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe guide groove is formed in a circular shape in a rotation directionof the impeller.
 3. An electric blower comprising: an impeller includingan upper surface, which is an air inlet portion, a lower surface, whichis an air outlet portion, and blades formed between the upper and lowersurfaces, the upper and lower surfaces provided with guide grooves forbalancing of the motor; and a driving module including a rotor partcoupled to the impeller in order to drive the impeller and a statorpart, the rotor part including a magnet, the stator part including anarmature configured of a core and a coil that are positioned to face themagnet, and the rotor part and the stator part including an air bearingpart formed therebetween, wherein the rotor part and the impeller arerotated by electromagnetic force of the magnet and the armature, and thedriving module is received in the impeller.
 4. The electric blower asset forth in claim 3, wherein the rotor part of the driving moduleincludes: a sleeve rotatably supported by a shaft; and a hub coupled tothe sleeve and including the magnet coupled to an inner peripheralportion thereof.
 5. The electric blower as set forth in claim 3, whereinthe sleeve and the shaft are mounted with magnetic bearing magnets atsurfaces facing each other, respectively.
 6. The electric blower as setforth in claim 5, wherein the magnetic bearing magnet is mounted at anupper end portion of the sleeve.
 7. The electric blower as set forth inclaim 3, wherein the rotor part of the driving module includes: a sleeverotatably supported by the shaft; and a magnet coupled to the sleeve soas to face the armature of the stator part.
 8. The electric blower asset forth in claim 3, wherein the stator part of the driving moduleincludes: a shaft rotatably supporting the rotor part; a base to whichthe shaft is fixedly coupled; and the armature coupled to the base andconfigured of the core and the coil.
 9. The electric blower as set forthin claim 8, wherein the shaft has a micro gap with the sleeve and isinsertedly coupled to the sleeve so that an air bearing part is formed,and dynamic pressure generating grooves are formed in an outerperipheral surface of the shaft facing the sleeve in a radial directionof the shaft.
 10. The electric blower as set forth in claim 9, whereinthe shaft further includes a ball mounted on a surface facing theimpeller in an axial direction of the shaft.
 11. The electric blower asset forth in claim 10, wherein the shaft is formed with a ball receivinggroove for mounting the ball at a central portion of an upper endsurface thereof.
 12. The electric blower as set forth in claim 11,wherein the impeller further includes a plate mounted on a surfacefacing the ball.
 13. The electric blower as set forth in claim 1,further comprising: an impeller cover covering the impeller; and a motorhousing coupled to the impeller cover and including the stator partmounted therein.